Unitary tumbler cylinder lock



Feb. l, 1949. v SWANSQN 2,460,551

UNITARY TUMBLER CYLINDER LOCK Filed June 16, 1945 INI/EN TOR.

Patented Feb. 1, 1r949 c 2,460,551,Y Y Y UNITARY TUMBLER oYLiNDEit LOCK Gunnar E. Swanson, NewgBritan, Conn.v Application June 1.6, 1945,- seriai No. 599,877`

wThisinvention relates Ato cylinder locks of the locking bar and' unit spring type. Such a lock is shownlin my prior Patent No. 2,206,539 for Cylinder lock, dated July 2, 1940. Unit tumblers, that-V is, tumblers which are `integralwith their springs and'thesprings connected With each other, are formed of thin resilient metal. f

l The object of the invention is to so construct the vcylinder and tumblerunit that the unit can be sprung into place in the cylinder and be retained and supported in suc-h manner that they springs will have Afull and free action without liability ofbeing distorted and the tumbers have sureandj easy cro-operation with the'locking bar without danger of becoming jammed by use.

'In 'the accompanying drawings Fig' 1 is a longitudinal section on plane derioted'bythe dottedline I-I on Fig. 2 of a cyl;- inder'lock that embodies the invention;

f Figure A2 -i's atransverse section-on plane indicated vby" 'dotted line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the elements as in 'locked'relation Figure 3-is a similar section showing the parts as when unlocked b y theinsertion of a correct key.

.Figure 4 isa detail View of part of the tumbler unit.

Figure 5 on enlargedscale shows a blank from which a tumbler-unit is formed.`

In the Views I indicates the barrel, 2 the cylinvder and 34 the locking bar which is carried by the cylinderl and isnormally .moved outward 4by the tumblers so as to extend into a slot or groove in the barrel and hold the cylinder from turning and is pressed inward by springs -4- that engage its ends, so as -to release the cylinder and allow it to be turned when the correct key 5 is inserted and the tumbler notches 6 are so aligned that they will receive the locking bar.

The blank of thin iexible metal from which the tumbler unit shown is formed has a base plate 'I from which extend separated spring fingers 8 that at their free ends have transversely extending tumbler blades 9 and reinforcing lugs I 0. In shaping this blank the reinforcing jlugs are folded over to increase the thickness of the fingers, the outer edges II of the tumbler blades are bent at right angles transversely of their length so as to increase the Width of their ends, the spring fingers are curved backward, then forward from the base plate so that they will have maximum flexibility and are twisted ninety degrees, as at I2, in order that the tumblers extend downward in the plane of "action of the spring fingers.

5 Claims. y( Cl. 701-364) The cylinder is preferably die cast with a cavhas integrally formed spacing plates which project into the recess I3 and which are separated by slots I5 that extend transversely on each side of the key slot for receiving and guiding the ends of the spring ngersand the tumblers. The cylinder also has a longitudinal slot I6 in its I surfacey for the locking bar, the locking bar slot` desirably extending the length of the cylinder and into the head I1 so as to permit the use of a wheel grinder for cutting the notches 6 in correct relation in the edges of the tumblers after the selected key is inserted into the cylinder.

The tumbler unit described is sprunginto place in the cylinder with the ends of the base plate 1 extending into'notches I8 in the end walls of the cylinder, and the reinforced ends of the vspringV fingers resting on the walls It) over the key slot. In this position the upper bend of the practically S-shapedrspring fingers engage the Walls 20 and the tumbler blades extend down into the slots I5 in engagement with the locking bar.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that the cylinder 2 has an open-sided recess extending through a substantial portion of its length and that the locking bar slot and the key slot communicate with the said recess, being substantially perpendicular' to each other. The tumbler unit is located chiefly within the recess,

the base plate thereof being connected with the cylinder by means of the slot I8 and the opposite Wall 20. The fingers of the tumbler are rigidly connected with the base, being preferably formed integrally therewith. The key engaging portions ofthe fingers are adjacent the key slot in positions to be acted upon by the key. The tumbler plates carried by the respective ngers are adjacent the locking bar and extend transversely thereof, being notched to receive the locking bar When moved by the key so that the several notches are in alignment.

As a result of the construction described the unit can be quickly sprung into place Where it will retain its correct position and from which it can be readily withdrawn. Although the spring fingers are made of light stock being folded adjacent to the key slot, double thickness is provided for easing and withstanding the thrust of the bitted key when inserted and removed, and at the same time provide a stii guide for the tumblers. And as the tumblers have their edges bent wide surfaces are provided for engagement with the locking bar and for the notches that receive the locking bar when the correct key is inserted into the cylinders.

It will be observed that the portions Il of the tumbler plates project transversely thereof beyond the corresponding slots l between the spacing plates. Thus the said portions Il are at the outer edges of the spacing plates, that is, at the edges thereof which are adjacent the locking bar. The result is that the outer edges of the spacing plates prevent. inward plates, that is, they prevent movements of the tumbler plates in the direction of inward movement of the locking bar. By reason of the errgagement of the portions l l of the tumbler plates with the outer edges of the spacing plates, the locking bar is positively position except when the notches inthe tumbler plates are aligned to permit inwardv movement of the bar. When the tumbler plates arevmoved by the key, they move along the said outer edges of the spacing plates.

The invention` claimed is 1-. The combinationv inV a cylinder lock, of a barrel having a central opening with a longitudinal groove therein, a cylinder. rotatablel in the barrel opening and provided with a longitudinally extending open-sided recessand with.

integrally formed spacing cess having a plurality between them which cylinder has al longitudinal key slot communicating at its inner edge with Vplates within the re.-

the lastsaid slots and also has a longitudinal,

locking bar slot between its periphery and the said recess, a locking bar in the last said slot movable outward into the barrel groove to eect locking, and a tumbler unit comprising a longitudinal base plate connected with the cylinder within the recess andV also comprising a plurality of fingers formed integrally with the base plate which ngers have resilient portions adjacent' the base plate and within the recess and also have other portions extending through the re.- spective slots between the spacing plates. and

positioned to be separately moved within theV last said slots by a key in the key slot and the said tumbler unit further comprising tumbler plates integral with the respective fingers andl projecting transversely thereof beyond thel slots between the spacing plates so that the outer edges of the spacing plates prevent inward` movements movements of the tumbler held in its outer locking of similar transverseeslots.

' tumbler blades integral with of the tumbler plates which tumbler plates normally engage the locking bar to hold it in its outer locking position and are notched to permit inward'l movement oi the bar upon movement of the ngers by the proper key and upon corresponding movement of the tumbler plates along the outer edges of the spacing plates to align the said notches.

2. The combination in forth in claim 1, wherein the base plate of the tumbler unit is adjacent but spaced from the end of the spacing plates in the cylinder recess, wherein the cylinder is provided with notches therein which receive the edge portions of the base plate,wherein the base plate andi the fingers of the tumbler unit are collectively S`shaped, and wherein the cylinder has a longitudinal wall engaging the ngers to hold the base plate in the saidnotches.

3. A tumbler unit for a cylinder lock which comprises al base plate, spring iingers integral with and extending from said base plate, and and extending from the` free ends of said spring fingers, said tumbler blades having their outer edges bent angularly from'. the planes of. the blade-s to provide surfaces thatv are wider than. the thickness of the blades for the engagement of the cylinder locking'means.

4. A tumbler unit for a cylinder lock which comprises a base plate, spring iingers integral. with and extending from said base: plate, and;l tumbler blades integr-al with and extending from the free ends oi said spring fingers, sections of'.

a cylinder lock as set said spring iingers adjacent to the tumhlers? being. folded to increase their 5. A tumbler unit for a cylinder lock which comprises a base plate, S-shaped spring fingers integral withand extending from saidl basev plate, and tumbler blades extending from the free ends, of said spring iingers, said tumblers having their outer edges bent. angularly from the planes of the. blades to provide surfaces that :are Wider than the thicknesszof the blades for the engage-l ment ofv the locking bar,. and. sections of said spring fingers adjacent to the tumbler blades` being folded to increase.- their thickness.

GUN-NAR E; SWA-NSON.

thickness.

REFERENCES CITED The. following references are of record in. the le of this patent:

UNITEDV STATES PATIIIST'I'SV 

